Brad Arthur embraces pre-season challenges at Leeds – even the cold weather
BRAD Arthur is ready to show the dark days and pressure can bring the light back to Leeds.
And the Aussie is loving the challenge of having a shortened pre-season in the cold than he was used to in the sweltering heat of the NRL.
Even though he will be on the other side of the world from much of his family at Christmas.
Arthur, who arrived midway through last season, admits he thought playing on Boxing Day, which the Rhinos will do against Wakefield, was a ‘bit odd’ at first.
Now he has got his head around it, he is ready for his players to show the effects of what he has put them through.
Arthur said: “It’s different in the cold but I watch Brodie Croft run around in just a jersey and wonder how he’s not freezing.
“Maika Sivo isn’t particularly noted for his fitness but he’s looking OK and he said to me it’s easier for him to run in the cold weather.
“I haven’t had to alter anything because of the conditions but I’ve had the luxury of being able to block things in the NRL – here, every week goes up another level.
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“I’ve had to structure things a little differently. It’s a different challenge and makes me really narrow my focus to what’s important and be in a position to win games early.
“And I get told quite a bit by the English lads, ‘It’s not even cold yet.’ I actually enjoyed the couple of sessions we had in the snow!”
Arthur will get the first idea of where Leeds stand when they face Trinity on Thursday, with all five new signings set to play.
But he revealed having Headingley to call on has helped him.
He added: “We’ve been able to do a lot of opposed sessions. I like to put the players under a bit of pressure against each other.
“We’ve done 13 on 13 and full contact sessions, so that’s really handy.
“We’re very fortunate that we’ve such a good stadium here and the ground staff have done a really good job – we haven’t missed a session.
“Even when it snowed, they got the pitch ready for us. “